F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan visited district Bannu and Kurrum to review the arrangements and facilities put in place by the concerned districts and divisional administrations to fight the corona pandemic.
During his trip to district Bannu, the Chief Minister visited quarantine center set up at Bannu University of Science and Technology.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Kazim Niaz also accompanied the Chief Minister.
Briefing the Chief Minister about the arrangements to manage the crises of corona, Commissioner Bannu division Adil Sadiq informed that a total of 19 quarantine centers were set up in the entire division with seven centers in the divisional headquarter having a total capacity of 1700 individuals whereas three isolation centers have also been set up in Bannu Division.
He was further informed that 1100 people with foreign travel history have been traced and tracked in Bannu.
Meanwhile, talking to media representatives the Chief Minister said that the corona pandemic was a challenge not only for Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa buy for the entire globe adding that the only effective way to control its outbreak is to maintain maximum social distancing.
He said that in order to maintain maximum social distancing and minimize human to human contacts the government had taken some difficult decisions including partial lockdown so that the possible outbreak of the virus at mass scale could be avoided.
Mahmood Khan said that the provincial government was taking good care of the members of Tableeghi Jummat hailing from other province presently staying in different parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “These individuals of Tableeghi Jummat are our guests and brothers who have come to our province with a great cause of preaching the true teachings of Islam,” the Chief Minister remarked and added that the provincial government will extend all out support and facilities to these individuals as long as stay here and when they will leave for their respective places, the provincial government will ensure all necessary arrangements for their safe, honorable and descent travel to their respective places.
While dispelling the impression of making District Bannu a quarantine for the entire province, the Chief Minister clarified that people belonging to Bannu only will be kept in quarantine centers made in the district and no one else will be kept here for quarantine purpose.
He further said that his government fully realized the difficulties faced by the general public specially the vulnerable segments of the society due to the partial lockdown and added that in view of the difficulties face by the general masses, the provincial government has approved a relief package worth Rs. 32 billion to provide relief to more than two Million households.
He once again made an appeal to the public to cooperate with the administration with regard to maintain maximum social distancing and hoped that the government will soon be able to overcome the crises with the support of the public.
Replying to a question Mahmood Khan said that there were deficiencies and weaknesses with regard to the availability of necessary medical equipments and Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) for the frontline health workers but the provincial government was taking serious and result oriented steps on war footings to overcome these deficiencies adding that with each passing day considerable improvement is being observed in this regard.
In response to in other question Mahmood Khan said that there is no shortage of commodities of daily use in the province but some handful elements are trying to create artificial shortage by hoarding commodities.
He made it very clear that no one would be allowed to exploit the situation for his illegal profiteering and anyone found involved in hoarding will be dealt with iron hands. Mahmood Khan appreciated the role of media in giving awareness to the public about corona virus and said that overall media has played a very responsible role in the prevailing situation.
Later on, the Chief Minister also made a trip to district Kurrum where he visited different quarantine facilities at Parachinaar. The District Administration briefed the Chief Minister about the arrangements made to fight the corona pandemic. He expressed his satisfaction on the overall arrangements of the districts administration and directed the concerned quarters to keep close eyes on market situation and to initiate strict action against those involved in hoarding of commodities.
